Two police officers were killed and several others wounded in an exchange of gunfire in the northern city of Hadera on Sunday night, police and paramedics said.
The two terrorists who carried out the attack were considered supporters of the Islamic State. The shooting came days after a deadly terrorist attack in the southern city of Beersheba, also committed by a man trying to join the jihadist group, raised concerns about further attacks inspired by the terrorist organization. Meanwhile, officials had warned of a flare-up in violence ahead of and during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins later this week.
Surveillance footage from the scene showed the two gunmen, bearded and wearing white overalls, opening fire on passers-by and police officers at a bus stop in the city near several restaurants.
The video showed one of the gunmen shooting multiple times at a victim lying on the ground before snatching the gun from that person. He also opened fire on a man who had passed the scene on a bicycle.
Police said several officers were injured in the attack and shortly afterwards during a gun battle with the terrorists.
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Both terrorists were shot dead by members of an undercover squad who were eating at a nearby restaurant, police officials said.
פיגוע ירי כזה (!) בלב חדרה.
“הגדה המערבית” זה כאן…
ככהממששהה, שמחוייתת לתתועה האיססתועה האיססאמית, לא מיצצה כככל את הדין םם פורעי מדןן תפפפ “א, וכככותיה לרמדןן ליקוק עעיקק ליקוקים לאבו מזןזן ולעק יקוקים לאבו מזןזן ולעעיי ישראל
– לצערי זה יותר מצפוי. pic.twitter.com/krGt7R7xhz— אורית סטרוק (@oritstrock) March 27, 2022
Magen David Adom emergency services said its medics were treating two men in their 20s in serious condition, as well as a 45-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman who were moderately injured. They were all taken to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in town.
“There was an unconscious man and woman with no vital signs at the scene and unfortunately we had no choice but to declare their deaths,” an MDA paramedic said.
The hospital said a fifth person was slightly injured in the attack and seven others were being treated for anxiety attacks.
The victims were not immediately named.
Another video from the attack in Hadera. pic.twitter.com/mYfT1Mg0gu
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 27, 2022
While the names of the suspected terrorists, both of whom police said were Israeli citizens from the northern Arabian city of Umm al-Fahm, were widely publicized and remain available online, police later obtained a full gag order from a court in Acre that did so prevented the publication of “all the details of the investigation and any details that could identify the suspects”.
Police said the attackers arrived at the scene with 1,100 bullets along with at least three handguns and six knives.
Israeli security forces near a car believed to have been used by two terrorists who carried out a deadly shooting attack in Hadera on March 27, 2022 (GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)
A video circulating on social media is said to show the two terrorists embracing in front of an Islamic State flag before the attack. The identities of the people in the video could not be independently verified.
“It’s a very serious attack, we’re talking about terrorists belonging to the Islamic State,” Homeland Security Minister Omer Barlev told Army Radio. “We are witnessing an alarming awakening that could happen in any country. The police are deployed in all areas.”
According to Hebrew-language media reports, shortly after the attack, police officers entered Umm al-Fahm to search for suspects.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made his way to the scene, visited the local police station and held talks with Israeli Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai and one of the undercover officers who killed the terrorists.
Israeli security forces at the scene of a shooting attack in Hadera on March 27, 2022. (Flash90)
The attack came five days after a terrorist attack in the southern city of Beersheba killed four people. The terrorist, who had previously been convicted of attempting to join the Islamic State, was shot dead by passers-by. He was also an Israeli citizen.
Israeli security services, particularly the police and Shin Bet, have come under public criticism in recent days for failing to monitor known Islamic State supporters after their release from prison.
Police inspect the scene of a shooting attack in Hadera, March 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Ariel Shalit)
There have also been a number of attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank recently.
Last weekend, two officers were injured in a suspected knife attack in the Ras al-Amud neighborhood of east Jerusalem, and an Israeli man was stabbed and slightly injured while jogging on Jerusalem’s Hebron Road.
Earlier this month there were multiple attacks in the Old City of Jerusalem and a nearby West Bank city.
Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have risen in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in recent weeks. Ten Palestinians were killed in violent clashes with Israeli troops: some died in gun battles with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, others in attempted attacks.
After Sunday’s attack, the Israel Defense Forces said they would reinforce troops in the West Bank and the seam zone with four additional battalions. The IDF said Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi conducted a situation assessment after the deadly attack.
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